AP Sports

FIFA names Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host; Spain, Portugal and Morocco to co-host 2030 edition

ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich on Wednesday by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930.

Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL’s relationship with music mogul, AP sources say

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Two people familiar with the matter say a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL’s relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago.

Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his ‘dive’ on Strahan’s record-breaking sack

Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange.” It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2.

US Biathlon officials ignored sexual harassment and abuse of female racers for decades, athletes say

Sexual abuse and harassment by coaches and others who held positions of power over women on the U.S. Biathlon team were ignored or excused over decades by officials more concerned with winning medals than holding offenders accountable. That’s according to Olympians and other biathletes interviewed by The Associated Press. While the men climbed the sport’s ranks, these women say they were forced to end their careers early. The women and others describe a culture of misogyny and say they faced retaliation for speaking up. Three of the men denied allegations they were either part of the abuse or ignored allegations of abuse. A fourth did not respond to AP requests for comment.

Bowl games miss out on 4 CFP teams, the latest twist and turn for college football’s postseason

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — First-round games in the College Football Playoff mean four ranked teams won’t make traditional bowls. The setup had the potential to shake up the bowl system. But adding quality teams like Oregon and Texas to the top two conferences managed to offset much of the lower-bowl handwringing. Still, it added to arguably the most unsettling stretch in college football history. The run includes COVID-19, massive conference realignment that might not be over and the move to a 12-team playoff that includes four matchups on campus sites. Another revamp could be ahead that could affect second-tier bowls even more.

Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady among 10 limited partners who’ve joined Bills’ ownership group

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Basketball Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are among 10 limited partners who have joined the Buffalo Bills’ ownership group. The noncontrolling, minority interests were approved Wednesday by NFL team owners at the league’s winter meetings. This is the first time in franchise history that minority owners have been added. Terry and Kim Pegula bought the Bills for $1.4 billion from the estate of late Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson in 2014. Forbes most recently valued the Bills at $4.2 billion. The Pegulas will retain 79% control of the team, according to a person with knowledge of the sale. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Bills haven’t revealed details.

Tulane QB Mensah transfers to Duke; Mississippi State’s Van Buren and Cal’s Mendoza enter portal

Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr. and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah is a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining. He told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men’s basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy, who also entered the portal.

David Bonderman, co-founder of private equity firm TPG and co-owner of Seattle Kraken, dies at 82

A lawyer and investor who managed money for one of the richest families in Texas, helped create one of the giants of the private-equity business and pushed to bring professional hockey to Seattle has died. David Bonderman was 82. Asset management firm TPG, which Bonderman co-founded, the Seattle Kraken, Bonderman’s family and his Wildcat Capital Management investment company announced his death on Wednesday. For much of his career, Bonderman kept a low profile in public, rarely granting interviews with news organizations. He concentrated on corporate takeovers and other investments, many of which were highly profitable. Bonderman also served on several corporate and philanthropic boards.

Analysis: After Juan Soto’s megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon

For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter, with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that’s the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. The way it’s going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn’t seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future.

Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source says

DALLAS (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Max Fried and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest deal for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history. New York made the move two days after outfielder Juan Soto left for a pending $765 million, 15-year contract with the rival Mets. Fried, who turns 31 in January, gets the fourth-highest contract among pitchers behind the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg. Fried broke the mark for lefties set by David Price at $217 million.